CAB
Well-known member
Had a cow go 171/2 hours Sat. 2:00pm til 7:30am Sunday morning. C-section Sunseeker, bull calf. Cow wouldn't dilate. Z model year cow, never had that happen B4.
justme said:I meant finished out at at least 1100 pounds I type faster than I should sometimes. If we take a steer under 1100 pounds even if he's finished, they tend to get nailed hard at sale barn.
ROAD WARRIOR said:As long as we're pitching calving ease bull - why not consider the breed known for calving ease and maternal traits - Red Angus. Hope for a heifer and if you end up with a steer it is still a merchandisable product. Sullivans used to breed all of their "clubbie" first calf heifers to R A calving ease bulls. RW
Show Heifer said:ROAD WARRIOR said:As long as we're pitching calving ease bull - why not consider the breed known for calving ease and maternal traits - Red Angus. Hope for a heifer and if you end up with a steer it is still a merchandisable product. Sullivans used to breed all of their "clubbie" first calf heifers to R A calving ease bulls. RW
I have seen some of those RA epds....a +3 to a +6 BW EPD doesn't scream calving ease to me......seems like the recent sales I have been to are all in that range. But that goes for black angus too....
Know of someone who used a "calving ease" RA bull on heifers and are getting calves averaging 95. It happens in all breeds!!
We run basically three lines of bulls after AIing. 1 with alot of power, growth and maternal, 1 that is our premier female producer and 1 that is money in the bank calving ease. Our heaviest calf at the midway point of calving ease has been 86#s. Our "heifer bull" calves have ranged from 69 to 78#s. Red Angus are no different from any other breed - Just because the numbers say it's so doesn't mean it's so. We have been SO EPD intense for so many years that we have some of the best data manipulaters out there. Find a BREEDER not a MERCHANDISER and go with them. For some the all mighty dollar is more important than reputation. RW
shortyisqueen said:I'm not sure I'm a big fan of the 'my breed is a...and they always...' mentality, no matter what breed you have. Fluffer didn't get big calves because it was an Angus - they got them because it was the wrong Angus (of course, not with their knowledge).
We all have our breed of choice and cattle that we are (rightfully) very proud of. Its probably just me but I find the blatant breed sales pitches to be a little bit rude. There are quality cattle in every breed that can get the job done and inferior cattle in every breed who can't. Correct me if I'm wrong, but just because an animal is a Lowline does not guarantee it will sire a premium market weight steer in the same way having an Angus bull does not guarantee calving ease. Do we have so little respect for other's breeding programs that we can resort to saying 'its just your breed'...when clearly, its not...?
shortyisqueen said:I'm not sure I'm a big fan of the 'my breed is a...and they always...' mentality, no matter what breed you have. Fluffer didn't get big calves because it was an Angus - they got them because it was the wrong Angus (of course, not with their knowledge).
We all have our breed of choice and cattle that we are (rightfully) very proud of. Its probably just me but I find the blatant breed sales pitches to be a little bit rude. There are quality cattle in every breed that can get the job done and inferior cattle in every breed who can't. Correct me if I'm wrong, but just because an animal is a Lowline does not guarantee it will sire a premium market weight steer in the same way having an Angus bull does not guarantee calving ease. Do we have so little respect for other's breeding programs that we can resort to saying 'its just your breed'...when clearly, its not...?
Show Heifer said:Fluffer, you said something that caught my attention....what breed was your heifers???? We used a 100% calving ease angus bull on some gelv heifers and had a COMPLETE diseaster! Was told that the heterosis is at its ultimate when crossing any british breed with any continental breed. That EPD's are out the window....
The ones we saved were awesome, grew way better than weeds, but lost way too many calves and a few cows.